OpenAI trains teachers to master AI in classrooms

OpenAI Academy is teaming up with the Walton Family Foundation to launch a major AI Skills Jam for K-12 educators this summer. Over 1,600 teachers and admins will gather in cities across the U.S. for hands-on workshops that turn AI curiosity into daily classroom know-how. The goal is practical: help educators save time on lesson planning, parent emails, and admin tasks so they can focus more on students. Research from Gallup backs this up, showing teachers who use AI weekly save about 5.9 hours — roughly six weeks over a school year. Participants will work directly with OpenAI mentors, get access to the free Academy platform, and explore responsible AI adoption. This isn’t a one-day thing; OpenAI aims to build lasting relationships with school communities. Why it matters: As AI reshapes education, this initiative tackles the critical gap between hype and hands-on skill-building for the people shaping tomorrow’s workforce.